Covid-19 leaves amateur boxing fighting for survival
Amateur boxing clubs can now tap into £4.6 billion of government funding made available during the January 2021 national lockdown. Changes to the criteria for Sport England's 'Return to Play Fund' have made it easier for clubs to now access up to £10,000 in grants. Sheffield City Amateur Boxing Club, based in Old Sharrow Junior School, are a not-for-profit club who provide talent for the University Varsity and national amateur shows. They have already made use of the new support and received £4800 from the government last week, via Sport England. This is the first time during the pandemic Sheffield City ABC has had access to government funding which directly helps amateur boxing. The club already have their rent subsidised by the council and received some funding from Sport England for equipment last year. Brendan Warburton, 49, is the Head Coach of Sheffield City ABC, he said: “We got a bit of funding from Sport England for eleven punch bags and some hanging clamps which we hung on girders, we then began doing sessions outdoors.” When the first lockdown of 2020 began to ease, the club originally invested in making their indoor gym covid secure, however social distancing meant the capacity was limited to 14 people. Up to 50 people had attended sessions prior to the pandemic.
Head Coach, Brendan Warbuton, gives out hand sanitizer at the final gym session before the March 2020 lockdown.
Sheffield doctor says it’s ‘too early’ to lift lockdown restrictions
A retired Sheffield doctor has said the government will be taking a massive risk by lifting lockdown restrictions in accordance with the prime minister's roadmap. The prime minister is to put his lockdown exit plan to MPs today. The roadmap calls for all schools to reopen as early as 8 March, followed by the reinstatement of the 'rule of six' for outdoor gatherings later in the month. Dr Bing Jones, a retired Associate Specialist in Haematology, said the government are taking a risk by basing their lockdown exit strategy on "the vaccine going well".
Dr Bing Jones. Image Credit: Bing Jones.
Image Credit: COVID-19 Symptom Tracker App
Woman injured after being dragged out of her car by dog thief
(Credit: https://www.yourdog.co.uk/) A woman in her 50s suffered serious bruising and cuts to her knees after a white van driver pulled her out of her car window. The driver approached the victim’s car on Waterthorpe Gateway near Crystal Peaks shopping centre at 2pm on Friday and after pulling up in front of the woman at a junction, he threatened her when she refused to hand over her Lhasa Apso. The man who is believed to be in his 40s got back into his van and fled the scene after dragging her out of the car by her hair. Detective Sergeant Matt Penn, said: “This is naturally a really concerning incident and I know it has caused some distress in the community after details were shared on social media." Police are looking at CCTV of the scene and have begun enquiries into the incident. One Sheffield resident said on Facebook: “The best way to police a community is to walk around it, people don’t feel protected, preferably with a couple of police dogs!” Another wrote: “This is getting out of hand now. Women will be too scared to go out alone with their beloved dogs.” There has been an increase in reported dog thefts across the country and this is often linked to organised crime groups according to Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Henderson. He said: “Stolen pedigree breeds can sell for thousands of pounds, and with more people working at the moment the demand for dogs has increased.” Police have urged dog owners to be wary when out with their dogs and to contact them, the Local Authority’s Dog Warden service and local vets and rescue centres if they believe their dog has been stolen. Police have described the man as 5ft 8 inches tall and of a large build and have said he was last seen wearing stonewash jeans and a grey v-neck top. Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 14/31351/21.
Dog training centre approved for High Hazels Park
Wagging tails and well behaved canines will become new fixtures at a Darnall park following the approval of plans for a dog training centre.
High Hazels Park will soon be home to the newest location of Yorkshire Dog Training. The company received approval of their lease by Sheffield City Council on Wednesday.
The park, which is run as a charity trust, currently houses a café, playground, and a sports facility.
Craig Rice, Managing Director of Yorkshire Dog Training, said: “Our Sheffield Training Centre has been in discussion with the Council for over a year now and we are very happy that the planning phase is coming to end and we can hopefully get started soon.”
The company already runs home services for pets in Sheffield and the new training centre will join a list of branches across Yorkshire in Leeds, Doncaster, Harrogate, and Wakefield.
The training centre will be built on the disused bowling green, breathing new life into the park.
The proposal for the lease highlighted that the location of the centre will “remove the feeling of neglect in this part of the park.”
Western Entrance of High Hazels Park. (Photo by Neil Theasby).
“Personally I am broadly in favour of the dog training centre,” said Paul Campbell, 72.
Mr Campbell, who is a member of Friends of High Hazels Park, added: “The reserve bowling green has not been used for many years, and that part of the park has become a bit of a backwater.”
Construction of the new centre is part of the five-year Better Parks initiative started by the City Council in 2018. The program aims to improve the city’s parks and green spaces while increasing commercial interest and revenue.
Mr Rice said: “We are very keen to help build a community of owners with well trained dogs around our Sheffield Centre, and once government restrictions allow, will be planning group activity which is both fun for dogs and their owners.”
An increased community presence in the park may also help to reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour. This concern comes following a rape in the park which made national headlines in December 2020.
High Hazels Park has also been identified for funding from Public Health to support further investment in youth recreational facilities. This will most likely lead to either a ball court or a skate park.
Tension over Page Hall police patrols
Exasperated residents of Page Hall have doubts over high visibility police patrols, and have said the solution to the area’s problems lies in getting children off the streets.
Community champion Yasser Mohammed, who runs the Facebook group ‘ONLY IN PAGEHALL’, praised South Yorkshire Police’s efforts over the years, but said the relationship had soured.
Mr Mohammed has worked with the local authorities in Page Hall for 10 years in an attempt to unite the community, and said they had done a “tremendous job” of keeping control of crime.
But he said a major issue could be solved by organised youth groups for children who currently spend their days roaming the streets.
Other residents reported they see children as young as eight on street corners with nothing to do, and this has worsened over the lockdowns of the past year.
Mr Mohammed said Page Hall’s young residents desperately need sports centres, youth clubs and better parks, and vandalism and other antisocial behaviour would reduce as a result.
He suggested boxing in particular could be the key to tackling boredom and keeping kids out of trouble.
He said: “The most important thing about boxing is discipline and self-protection. It’s a confidence booster too.
I’ve taken kids off the street, taken them to boxing with my son, paid for them out of my own pocket and tried to build a relationship with them.
“But there’s only so much you can do independently.”
Boxing at Sheffield Lane Top Boxing Club
He advocates an approach of tackling the problem at the source, instead of simply filling Page Hall with police, suggesting funding should be allocated to adding a boxing gym to the community centre.
“It’s the evenings when all the kids come out. If they had a class at 8pm they’d get tired out and go home because they want to sleep” he said.
When asked whether he thought opening gyms should be a governmental priority on the roadmap out of lockdown he said: “Absolutely. I think it should be top of the list.”
Another Page Hall resident, Mr Ali, felt the community’s faith in the police was dwindling, and agreed more good would come from arranging activities for the younger generation.
He said: “I think the young have been forgotten.
“With a lack of funding and leadership they don’t have aspirations to excel, and they have nowhere to go to relax and unwind.”
He warned that children are at risk of falling into drugs and gang culture if something is not done soon.
Councillor Paul Wood, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety at Sheffield City Council said the council are working with South Yorkshire Police, local community groups and residents to address problems in Page Hall.
He said: “By drilling down to the root causes, and joining up our approach, we hope to see a notable difference.
“For instance, addressing education issues and leisure opportunities should ultimately have a positive impact on antisocial behaviour.”
Boris Johnson is due to set out plans for sports and clubs to resume this afternoon.
Sheffield City Council set to increase tax over Covid-19 worries
An increase to council tax is being considered this morning in an attempt to raise funds for South Yorkshire Fire Service. South Yorkshire Fire Service has seen their funding has decreased in the past year by £750,000. Covid-19 has caused local council services to suffer due to the increase in people claiming benefits and mass business closure, which has resulted in a decrease in business tax revenue. The service cites the amount of business closures as a leading cause of the issue. The change will result in a small financial increase for taxpayers at 3p per week. If the increase in council tax is approved, the fire service will gain an extra £530,000 this year, which will allow the service to employ fifteen new firefighters. The decision is set to be made in a council meeting which will take place this morning. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Tragedy as Amazon driver, 21, dies in hospital days after crash while delivering parcels
An Amazon delivery driver who was critically injured in a collision with a car in Doncaster last week has tragically died in hospital. The 21-year-old man was delivering parcels in Barnby Dun Road, Clay Lane at around 2pm on 17 February when he was involved in a collision with an orange Nissan Note. He was left fighting for his life in hospital and sadly died yesterday evening. The driver of the Nissan stopped immediately and is assisting South Yorkshire Police (SYP) with their inquiries. SYP are now appealing for information and/or dash cam footage from anyone at the scene. A statement by SYP says: “We are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw either party prior to the incident, to get in touch. “Were you walking in Clay Lane or crossing the road at the time of the collision? Did you see what happened? “We are also keen to hear from anyone with dash cam footage.” Anyone with information should call 101 and quote the incident number 429 of 17 February. Footage should be emailed to enquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk with the incident number included in the subject line.
Sheffield Alumni love stories
The alumni couples who left with more than a degree from The University of Sheffield. Love it or hate it, love is in the air at this time of year and ex-students have shared their heart-warming stories of finding lasting love at university, reminding us all how love and learning really can go hand-in-hand.
Carolyn and Paul, who married in 1973.
Anna and Paul, who have been 'totally in love' since meeting in 2003.
John and Jiameng, who met in 2003 at the University's Chess Society in 2003.
Maria and Andrew, who met in 1982 through the University of Sheffield's History Society.
Ezza and Firdaus, who describe each other as the love of their lives'.
They said they have travelled to other countries together, but nothing beats their wonderful memories in Sheffield. They have now been married for almost five years and have ‘been blessed with a beautiful son’.
Jenny and Craig, who met in 2005 while living on West Street.
Joe and Helen, who met in 2005 and married in Valencia in 2019.
Monica and Bernardo, who married last year.
Hayley and Gavin, who met at a party outside Woodvale flats over 25 years ago.
Hayley and Gavin met almost instantly, on the second day of their first year at a party outside Woodvale Flats where Hayley was living.
Hayley said: “Many nights spent dancing at Stomp. Still going strong with nearly 25 years of love and friendship. Here’s to the next 25. Thanks Sheffield.”
Kriti and Sambit, who married in India in 2015.
Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley match preview: Rovers must improve defensively despite injury setback
The return of Southampton loanee Josh Sims is vital for Darren Moore's Doncaster Rovers' season (@drfc_official on Twitter) Wednesday evening's game against Accrington Stanley could be pivotal in restoring Doncaster's promotion challenge after two successive losses. A win on Wednesday could leapfrog the Rovers from fifth to second in the table if other results go their way, positioning them only two points behind league leaders Lincoln City with a game in hand. Manager, Darren Moore, will be hoping the recent losses away at Fleetwood and Sunderland are merely a minor blip in what has been an impressive season from the Rovers. So far, they have amassed ten points and are five positions higher than at the same point in the league last season. In the pre-match press conference, Doncaster Rovers boss Darren Moore said: “It’s important we maintain high standards that we’ve set, we have to get back [to] working properly again.” “It is a tough challenge for us on Wednesday against a highly experienced man (Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman), he knows the level and the division really well, [he] doesn’t get flustered by the bravado the league can present.” "We know how dangerous their man up top, (Dion) Charles, is and we'll set up to try and stop him" Despite the previous two results, Rovers fans can be buoyed by their imperious home form, winning nine of their thirteen games at the Keepmoat Stadium positioning them second in the home league table. Accrington's away form is of a league average, however their 2-2 draw away at Lincoln last weekend will provide them with the confidence that they can attack a Doncaster side that are suffering defensively due to the concussion suffered by skipper Tom Anderson ruling him out of this fixture. His presence was sorely missed on Saturday, conceding four headed goals to Charlie Wyke at Sunderland and Doncaster's lack of aerial prowess in the centre back position without Anderson will be tested against an Accrington side that excel in the air. Moore said of his captain: “Tom is a stalwart in defence, to miss someone of his ilk and aerial power, is massive but we felt we had ready made replacements. Lapses of concentration defeated us on Saturday and we need to switch on and engage.” Dion Charles' recent form for Accrington, which has seen him score seven goals in his last six games, including four man of the match performances and grabbing both goals in Saturday's draw against Lincoln, will no doubt be a cause for concern for Doncaster. The host's must successfully neutralise his threat alongside striking partner Colby Bishop, which will be vital if the Rovers are going to take all three points. Southampton loanee starlet, Josh Sims, will be an important tool for Doncaster's promotion push. Throughout the season his performances have been lauded and have earned him a position in the side for the remainder of the season after being brought back in last month. His six league assists rank him amongst the highest in the league and the most for his club, he will be hoping to build upon these impressive performances for the rest of the season. After playing his first minutes since coming back from a hamstring injury and re-signing on loan at the club, Sims is looking forward to carrying his stellar form into the remainder of the season saying: "Before the season started I set myself a target of five goals and five assists, I’m currently on three goals and six assists and I would like to go even further than that now." "I set myself goals but without the team I can’t achieve them. We all help each other meet our own personal goals and the goals we set as a club too.” Moore said of Sims: “We're all really pleased he’s back, in the first half campaign he showed us he suits the system and his skills marry up quite well with it." "Josh is pleased to be back and everyone looks forward to him getting back up to his maximum impact and ability again.” With games coming thick and fast amidst a tight league table, any side that can put together a positive run of form will be likely contenders for automatic promotion this season. It will be a timely boost that Tom Anderson is expected to return next weekend versus Hull City as Doncaster bid to return to the Championship since being relegated in the 2013/14 season. Match Information: Kick-Off: 19:00 Wednesday 17/02/2021 Keepmoat Stadium Available to watch via Doncaster Rovers' official website Referee: Dean Whitestone
Three Wildlife Organizations Thriving Through Lockdown
Sheffield is not only home to an abundance of green spaces and parks; it is also a hub for green groups and wildlife organisations, many of which have surged in popularity during lockdown.
Social isolation is at an all-time high, but many people across the region have taken the time to reconnect with nature. Turning to nature in difficult times can help relieve stress. NHS Forest advises: “Nature helps improve our overall mood and reduces stress and anxiety levels. It also provides long-term benefits, including reducing the risk of developing chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.” Several local organisations have seen encouraging upticks in support and engagement that show just how much we have come to need nature.
Fields along Porter Brook [Copyright: Taylor Ogle]
South Yorkshire and Rotherham Wildlife Trust
The Wildlife Trust has always been committed to connecting people to the natural world around them, and despite coronavirus restrictions shutting down in-person outdoor learning sessions, they have persevered.
The organisation sent out over 800 nature-inspired kits to children learning at home to promote wellbeing through engagement with nature. The packets include a range of activities from species spotting guides, boggart making kits, and nature based craft ideas. The kits, sent out to kids from preschool age to 16-years-old, were well-received by parents after hundreds signed up to take part in the program.
Amy Simcox, Head of Engagement, said: “Parents and caregivers are doing a fantastic job of home-schooling – it’s not easy, and we want to help you as much as possible by making our resources accessible to you all at home.”
Much of the funding that made these kits possible came from the People’s Postcode Lottery and the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
“Whether it inspires you to build a hedgehog shelter, start your own garden bird-watch or discover something new about wildlife with your children, we really hope you find something that sparks their interest and creativity and helps them connect with nature,” the Head of Engagement for the Trust said.
The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust is also running a series of Nature Natters. These free informal coffee-chat style sessions are run once a week through 4 March by a member of staff to introduce the community a wide range of topics from barn owls to butterflies.
Friends of the Porter Valley
News of another national lockdown halted all volunteer sessions for Sheffield’s Friends of the Porter Valley, but that hasn’t stopped the group from hurtling towards their fundraising goal of £380,000, so far raising £337,392.
The group’s main project is the much-needed restoration of Forge Dam. The Forge Dam Heritage and Habitat Improvement Project began in 2010 after a petition made Sheffield City Council aware of the poor state of the area.
Forge Dam has been in desperate need of restoration [Copyright: Ian S]
The Friends of Porter Valley have been working with Sheffield City Council and raising funds through events like their annual Duck Race for years.
It has taken a massive amount of community support to maintain this momentum. Earlier this year, the group received an anonymous donation of £100,000 taking the group 88% of the way to their fundraising target.
Detailed talks with the City Council have continued, and now the final planning and work for the restoration of the dam will be able to go ahead in Autumn 2021. After nearly a decade of work, the project is set to be completed in Spring 2022.
The Peak District National Park
Daily walks have become a hallmark of the pandemic and with the Peak District at Sheffield’s backdoor, it’s no wonder people have flocked to its wide-open spaces and gorgeous landscape.
Gorgeous scenes from the Peak District National Park [Copyright: Samuel Timson]
Once the initial restrictions prohibiting walks further away from home were lifted, the national park was flooded with walkers aching for a bit of fresh air. Unfortunately, the park was also flooded with litter, but thanks to Hulme resident Lee Spensley it didn’t stay for long. Mr Spensley was inspired by a litter-pick early in 2020 and decided to continue his efforts throughout the entire pandemic.
As of this month, his hard work has resulted in an astonishing 250kg of rubbish collected. National Park Chief Executive applauded Mr Spensley’s efforts: “Whilst our beautiful Peak District has become a vital place of sanctuary in nature during these challenging last few months, we have also seen a disappointing increase in litter in many areas. My heartfelt thanks go to Lee and countless others who have shared with us their efforts to care for their little piece of the National Park and keep it clean and tidy for us all to enjoy.”
Infectious Love: Sex, Youth and a Pandemic
(Credit: Sara Kurfeß) Many young people are struggling under the weight of sweeping government restrictions which generally cater towards the nuclear family household. With their hopes of nourishing new relationships taken away, some have chosen to ignore the rules. According to author Gary Chapman, there are five love languages which help us understand how we express and experience love. For those unfortunate souls who utilise the love language of ‘physical touch’, the social distancing rule is the worst form of torture. It resembles the type of dystopian and backward world presented in Lauren Oliver's novel Delirium, which portrays love as a disease. In June 2020, when the government first introduced the ban on mixing households (barring those in a support bubble together), everyday shows of affection were thrown into disarray. The rules meant that, in England, sex between single people, or established couples who don’t cohabit, has in effect been either illegal or only allowed outdoors. According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly three-quarters of 16–29-year-olds are not living in a couple – meaning that most people in this age bracket are left wanting when it comes to creating or maintaining their sexual relationships with others. “Physical touch is my love language, so this has been very very difficult for me,” said Georgia*, a 24-year-old teacher who lives in Sheffield. Georgia and her partner became exclusive in August 2020 and have spent only half of their six-month relationship being physically and sexually intimate. They live separately from one another but meet in public spaces for socially distanced walks when they can.
Image taken by Libby Shaw. Legs by Georgia*
Sheffield to Manchester rail link threatened with cancellation
The future of the vital train link between Sheffield and Manchester could be in jeopardy due to a plan to reduce rail congestion around Manchester city centre. A new consultation run by the Manchester Recovery Task Force could result in the busy Sheffield to Manchester Airport train service being cancelled. Liberal Democrat councillor Shaffaq Mohammed has urged Sheffield residents to take part in the consultation and share their views as to how it would impact them as commuters and holidaymakers. The consultation proposes three options for reducing congestion and making train services in and out of Manchester more reliable. Two of these options suggest the cancellation of the service. To mitigate the lack of a service to Manchester, the number of trains from Cleethorpes and Nottingham which go via Sheffield to Liverpool will be increased. However this cuts off a direct link to the main airport that serves Sheffield internationally. Coun Mohammed said he was aware of the lack of publicity around the issue and wanted Sheffield residents to have a say in the future of the service. Since the news of the consultation was shared by Coun Mohammed on Facebook, users of the service have reacted in outrage. One Facebook user commented: "The Manchester line is one of the busiest routes. Are you trying to cut us off from the rest of the country? You're supposed to be making things better up here not worse." Another pointed out the environmental factors should be taken into account: "If people are going to fly we want them to at least use public transport to get to the airport." Coun Mohammed, a former MEP who used the train link in the past to get to Brussels, expressed his concern that people would use taxis and cars to get to the airport if the train was cancelled. The Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said of the consultation: "I urge passengers to use this opportunity to comment on the future of your railway. Improving punctuality and reliability is one of my key priorities. As we continue to build back better from the pandemic, these proposals will ensure that the rail network is more dependable for those who use it every day." Any changes to services will be implemented in May 2022. The consultation is open until 10 March 2021 and more information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/timetable-options-to-improve-rail-performance-in-the-north-of-england